Best apps for the iPhone: Shopping apps

Laura Willard is a law school grad who has successfully avoided using her education for eight years and counting. She's a wife and an adoptive mom to two kids. Motherhood is the best job she never knew she wanted so much until she had it...

Do your holiday shopping iphone style

Between the useful functions your iPhone serves and the entertainment it provides, you might have your iPhone glued to your hand during your waking hours. We do, too. You've heard the saying "There's an app for that" -- and there is! We're bringing you fun and useful apps for your iPhone every week. Check out these five must-have iPhone shopping apps to help you finish up (or begin!) your holiday shopping.

iPhone apps

Do your holiday shopping

iphone style

Between the useful functions your iPhone serves and the entertainment it provides, you might have your iPhone glued to your hand during your waking hours. We do, too. You've heard the saying "There's an app for that" -- and there is! We're bringing you fun and useful apps for your iPhone every week. Check out these five must-have iPhone shopping apps to help you finish up (or begin!) your holiday shopping.

Every shopper loves a bargain -- or at least a fair price. Especially during the holidays, when you're crunched for time and money, any time-saving and wallet-preserving help is welcome. Enter your trusty iPhone. When it comes to shopping, there's an app for that. Actually, there are countless shopping apps that enable you to score a deal, find what you're looking for or get the 411 on a product you're eyeing. We've rounded up five useful iPhone shopping apps to help you during the holidays -- and all year long!

Google Shopper

With info on millions of products, the Google Shopper iPhone app recognizes items by cover art, barcode, voice and text search. The Google Shopper app allows you to get local and online prices, reviews, specifications, videos and more to help you make the best choice. Saving time and getting more bang our your buck? We're in!

Price: Free

ShopSavvy

The ShopSavvy iPhone app is a barcode scanner and QR reader. It allows you to scan a barcode or search by item name. (When barcodes are missing, users can enter them into the system.) You can then search for the lowest online or local price for that item. If you find a deal on an item, you can buy it immediately or save it for later. The app also provides retailer info -- directions, phone number, etc. ShopSavvy is super-handy for bargain shoppers.

Price: Free

FastMall

Does holiday shopping have you stressed out and a little forgetful? Not recalling where we parked our car at the mall happens to the best of us! Enter FastMall, an iPhone app that allows you to navigate any mall without the need for GPS or Wi-Fi. Fastmall will guide you -- turn by turn -- to restrooms, stores and restaurants at shopping malls around the world. FastMall also allows you to note where you parked your car and add a text, photo or video review of anything you want.

Price: Free

Better Christmas List

To get organized for you holiday shopping extravaganza, start with Better Christmas List. This is the iPhone app to have for the holidays to help you accomplish your Christmas shopping on time -- and within budget. Put your Christmas lists in one place and keep track of your gift shopping. You can create groups for different people such as friends, family and co-workers. The Better Christmas List app has a password-protect option to ensure tech clever kids are still surprised on Christmas morning.

Price: 99 cents (limited-time sale)

Coupon Sherpa

If you feel like your soul withers and dies when you make a purchase without a coupon, then Coupon Sherpa is for you. You won't land on Extreme Couponing with this app, but you will find in-store coupons for clothing, shoes, electronics, restaurants, jewelry, sporting goods, books, travel and more. Coupon Sherpa provides coupons that are exclusive to the app and general coupons posted on the Internet -- but you'll get them all in once place.